Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3

Read About This Recording

Saint-Saëns composed his Symphony No. 3 in C minor in 1886 and its completion denotes a high-water mark in his career as a composer. With standard symphonic structure, it gets its nickname — "Organ Symphony" — from its use of the organ in sections of the work. It is somewhat of a misnomer as the organ part is not particularly exposed or difficult. The work is actually two large scale movements but on this recording, with Jean Martinon and the Orchestre National de L'O.R.T.F., it is presented as three movements, with the original second movement split Allegro moderato-Presto and Finale (Maestoso).

Saint-Saëns, who himself was a gifted organ virtuoso, has created an almost autobiographical work with this symphony — with melody, brilliant orchestral writing and the inclusion of the organ in the battery of instruments at his employ. The piece is heroic in nature, sounding at times like Beethoven, sometimes Mendelssohn and perhaps a touch of toned down Bruckner. It is, however, Saint-Saëns' originality that is omnipresent with powerful organ chords, brass fanfares and rolling strings. The symphony is dedicated to Franz Liszt, who was a friend of Saint-Saëns', and is a study in thematic development.

The organ is played by Marie-Claire Alain, who is one of the most important organists of the 20th century, both as a teacher and a prolific recording artist — in fact, she is considered the most recorded organist of all-time.

The CD also contains two tone poems, "Le Rouet d'Omphale" ("The Spinning Wheel") and "Danse Macabre." Originally written for voice and piano, Saint-Saëns rescored "Danse Macabre" for solo violin with orchestra to great effect. According to the superstition, Death appears at midnight every year on Halloween and has the power to call forth the dead from their graves to dance while he plays his fiddle. The skeletons come to life and dance until the break of dawn, when they must return to their graves until the next year. It is a wonderful work of program music with whirling strings and a xylophone, in particular, imitating the sounds of rattling bones. An intensely likable CD from Erato that will be a pleasure to have in any collection.

—Terrence London

Quotes

"As to the symphonies, Jean Martinon's remains the benchmark by which all others must be judged. His 'Organ Symphony,' for example, is one of the very best." —Classics Today

Contents

Symphony No. 3 in C Minor with Organ, Op. 78; Danse macabre, Op. 40; Le Rouet d'Omphale, Op. 31.

Marie-Claire Alain, Organ; Orchestre National de L'O.R.T.F.; Jean Martinon, Conductor.